Jenny, Eliza, Greg and Sarah work on sheet mulching with cardboard around Juncus Patens (a native rush) and Carex Glauca (a meadow sedge).

We built a bio swale in Ragle Park today. This dry creek bed will filter runoff from the nearby gazebo, recharging the aquifer, and providing habitat for native plants and animals. The project was a collaboration between the Sonoma County Parks Department (spearheaded by Jenny and Eliza) and Three Leaf Farms (my sisters and I). We carved out a channel for the runoff, then planted native rushes and sedges. Next, we sheet mulched with cardboard to suppress weeds and retain moisture, and placed boulders to capture silt and debris. Lastly, we added a thick layer of wood chips. In the Fall, we will seed native wild rye grasses.